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Sorry to revive this thread, but found a really interesting variation of the brass snake tsuba on eBay. First one I’ve ever seen with the snake cooling up a monkey. I’m assuming this is also cast as well? https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F113892456656

I like this style. I’m a sucker for Star and Big Dipper constellation type tsubas.,

This was all the info aoiart had:

The aesthetic is almost cartoony, and in a strange way super clean, love it!

Wow! yea that looks so similar to this one. I wonder if there was a workshop making tsubas of this general composition for foreigners or if this was a copy of that tsuba. I have the aoi listing and approval papers actually but they only say the theme, the size, and the materials and techniques used to make the tsuba. No origin info at all.

Thanks for the really great insight Ford! I definitely think this tsuba was made for export for foreigners just by the aesthetic alone. A few things I noticed while inspecting the tsuba in hand: -The heads of all three minogame have a lot of depth and are definitely inlays. Body is thinner while tail is very thin gilded gold. -Surprisingly the eyes actually have tiny tiny inlays in them. -The quality /workmanship is rather inconsistent. The wave carvings in some areas are done elegantly and yet in other areas look rather sloppy. Same with the clouds. -The gold pines are def inlays but don’t have the same level of definition as the minogame. -The Hitsu Ana is strange. So I’m not sure if it’s actual wear and tear or the Nanakoji is off but at the edges are rather sharp in areas and soft in others. -Overall, I don’t see any cast work here at all, def something made for export to foreigners due to the composition, and if it’s modern I have a feeling probably not recent but maybe like in the last 50+ years.

Bought this tsuba recently since I love the composition and work. I know the subject is Mino-Kame and the base is Shakudo Nanakoji but any idea of the school, age or who might have made it?

Here you go:

One thing I’ve always wondered is every Japanese depiction of a wolf and moon has the wolf looking the other way of the moon. Why is that?

Thanks! Yes, I love seeing the very subtle and “less is more” nature of how the moon + clouds, and the ura side’s waterfall is done. The Shakudo wolf is very interesting to study. I’m not sure if it was by accident or on purpose, but there are these copper colored striations along the wolf’s head, ribs, spine and legs that really accentuate the dimensions of the carving. Yea! I only knew of Jochiku’s daughters as well. It also seems they becomes artists together as sisters lol. Here’s some more work from Keigyoku:

I recently acquired this tsuba from the SF Token Kai show. I got the chance to see some very impressive tsubas both on the table and under, however I ended up falling in love with this wolf tsuba for it’s subtle elegance, design and quality of work. It’s papered TK and the artist is Kamiyama Keigyoku, who interestingly enough is a female artist from the late Edo period. Thought I would share:

Wow, that’s incredible. Any more info on this tsuba?

Hi Kevin! Are you selling any more of these wonderfully made Akasaka tsubas?

Thanks guys! Wasn’t planning on buying it since I’m not a fan of the design but good to know everyone else is thinking the same thing regarding this eBay set. Yea, i don’t think the tiger was done or designed very well or like any Unno Shomin’s I’ve seen but I got to admit, I thought the trees bark was done quite well on this piece. Also eBay just feels like a strange place to sell a “big name” piece.

Hi, Saw this pair of tsuba attributed to Unno Shomin on eBay: https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F163787174618 The works looks pretty good, perhaps not as elegant as the best examples I’ve seen online. I’m not sure how much Unno Shomin work goes for, but it seems rather cheap to me? Any idea if it’s real? Cheers, Tony

Just wanted to say I’m still looking and will be at the SF Token Kai show next month! If you might have something that fits my criteria please pm me and we can meet up at the show.

Thank you. Yes I definitely realize a lot on there can be gimei. I’ve definitely seen some very high work even for gimei tsubas these days. Collecting tsubas is one difficult hobby.

For sure. I'm constantly checking sellers and it also seems some of the best come from Bonhams and Christie auctions. Waiting on the next auction too whenever that is.

Saw a photo of part of this gorgeous lacquered tsuba by Shibata Zeshin. I know he rarely did tsubas, and most were wood with lacquer so mostly art pieces and not exactly in the normal "tosogu" realm we talk about. However I was hoping perhaps someone has more photos of this gorgeous Japanese Beetle tsuba? Source: https://43749831.at.webry.info/201112/article_3.html

I saw that one on Tetsugendo! I quite like it and contacted the email but he never responded back to my email. I saw that Yoshioka tsuba as well. It's very nice but not exactly what I'm looking for. I check japaneseart.eu quite often. I really wanted to buy the Goto tsuba they had on there months ago but it was out of my price range.

I did see this one, it’s incredible but not to my aesthetic tastes. Now the Omori tsuba with the Carp that Darcy sold on the same site some months ago I would have bought in a heartbeat.

Bump

There's this masterpiece utsushi of probably the most famous dragonfly tsuba in history: https://www.marcuschambersmetalarts.com/project-01

Sorry to re raise this thread, but I found an almost exact same tsuba in really good condition with Tokubetsu Hozon Tousougu: http://world.seiyudo.com/product/tu-040519/ Very interesting motif, almost aztec like in design.

I should also mention high-end tsuba also includes modern tsubas as well. I would definitely love to buy one of Ford's top works. Still looking for an amazing tsuba! (also can be under 5k usd of course) Also wanted to add, I'm also partial to high quality dragon motiffs.